Trees and Plants
Discover a variety of plants from pine and juniper across the mesa tops, to scattered prickly cactus and sagebrush along the dry canyon bottoms.
Guide Sections
Use Trees and Plants's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Trees and Plants Details
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
Learn About the Park
Mesa Verde (Green Table) got its name from the Colorado pinyon pine and Utah juniper that cover the mesa tops and upper canyons in gorgeous green swaths. You'll also find the broad-leafed yucca and prickly pear cactus throughout the park. At the highest elevations, you'll find Gambel oak and Douglas fir; recent extensive wildfires started by lighting have significantly reduced the populations of both tree species. In the dry canyon bottoms you'll come across sagebrush and other herbaceous plants. Along the banks of the Mancos River, enjoy the quiet beauty of the willows and cottonwoods that line its banks.